The Day of the Jackal

1973
PG
2h 23m

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

46K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

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Political Thriller Spy Crime Drama Thriller

In the aftermath of France allowing Algeria's independence, a group of resentful military veterans hire a professional assassin codenamed "Jackal" to kill President Charles de Gaulle.In the aftermath of France allowing Algeria's independence, a group of resentful military veterans hire a professional assassin codenamed "Jackal" to kill President Charles de Gaulle.In the aftermath of France allowing Algeria's independence, a group of resentful military veterans hire a professional assassin codenamed "Jackal" to kill President Charles de Gaulle.

Director
- Fred Zinnemann
Writers
- Frederick Forsyth
- Kenneth Ross
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

46K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

1,032

107

Director
- Fred Zinnemann
Writers
- Frederick Forsyth
- Kenneth Ross
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 11 nominations total

Trivia
The special lightweight rifle that The Jackal concealed in a crutch was a genuine working model. Two of them were made for this movie; one was handed over to the British authorities, the other resides in the Paris Cinematheque.

Goofs
In the shooting at the Petit Clamart ambush the lower part of the rear window of the presidential limousine is shattered and falls to pieces, but when the car arrives at the airport the rear window, though badly cracked, is still largely in place.

Quotes
Minister: There is one thing: how did you know whose telephone to tap?
Lebel: I didn't, so I tapped all of them.

Crazy credits
The Cross of Lorraine, a symbol General Charles de Gaulle used during his lifetime, appears at the beginning of the film.

Connections
Edited into The Clock (2010)

Soundtracks
Colonel Bogey March
(1914) (uncredited)
Music by Kenneth Alford
Played by an accordionist

User reviews260

Review

Featured review

8/10

I don't think I've ever heard of a political killer in this country. It's not our style, is it?

You watch the Bruce Willis version of the Jackal and you think that is so cool, but you don't know cool until you see Edward Fox do it.

Fox is the epitome of cool. The guy even wears an ascot, for god's sake! Most people today don't even know what an ascot is. He carefully plots his moves and is methodical in his precision. He kills with cool detachment. If he had Willis' assignment, he would have gotten it done.

But, he had to deal with the European versions of the CIA/FBI and they were not restrained in how they handled investigations. With just a thread, the French police inspector carefully puts together a case with as much precision as his prey. It was a game of cat and mouse that kept you on the edge of your seat for two and a half hours without noticing the time.

That is because of director Fred Zinnemann and the fact that he kept things moving along beautifully.

If you want to see how a thriller is done with craft and cunning and without special effects, then this is the film for you.